~PASSAGE TO LEILA~

RE-LEGALIZAION

2007-11-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today we re-legalized Leila's adoption in the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court. It was a nice ceremony and we were lucky enough to have the same judge that finalized Olivia's adoption. She was thrilled to see us back and excited to see pictures we had from Olivia's US adoption day.

This is one of the final steps of our adoption process. It gives Leila the right to an ammended United States birth certificate with Tommy and I listed as her parents. We did a legal name change to Leila Yi Ren Keaney making our adoption complete.

After the ceremony we returned home for a small celebration. After brunch we stripped Leila of her beautiful Chinese dress and let her enjoy eating cupcakes in her own way.

End of Summer

2007-09-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun at the beach this summer. We were at every beach from Ipswich to Falmouth. Leila loves the water and will walk in until she's taking it in her mouth and up her nose - and still continues to go deeper. She has been knocked down by waves and fallen in the pool head first but that has not put any fear into her. She is a daredevel at the playground and loves to attempt everything Olivia does. I can't believe we made it through summer with no broken bones. I thought for sure she'd have us in the ER at least once. She's very coordinated, very strong and quite confident. She has us in stitches with her antics and her great big devilish smile. The perfect addition to our family.

Nobska Beach in Falmouth, August 2007

Emmett (Livi's BFF), Olivia and Leila at the Lantern Festival, Forest Hills Cemetery July 2007

Leila at White Horse Beach, Plymouth - August 2007

Roof decking it!

Summer Outing

2007-08-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

In August we had a gathering of our China family, the group we traveled with to bring Olivia home in 2003. We spent a glorious day at College Pond in Plymouth. It's always so wonderful to see the girls and how much they have grown.

Leila's Christening

2007-08-09T20:04:00.001-07:00

Well, we finally did it. She walked into the church on her own and I thought it took us so long that she might have a date for her own Christening but...we finally baptised our wee little Leila. She can know enjoy a lifetime of guild and shame like the rest of us Catholics. It was a lovely ceremony by Fr English, a friend of the family. Although, it was 100 degrees that day and the church felt more like
HE-double hockey sticks, we all managed to hold it together. Leila's Godparents, Dan and Lisa, each our long time best friends, did a fabulous job of making promises and saying I do's. The baptism was followed by a wonderful party at a local restaurant.

Summer Holiday

2007-07-24T13:56:00.001-07:00

Our big summer vacation was spent in NH complete with a trip to Story Land. The girls loved it. We spent Father's Day taking a trip on the Conway Scenic Railroad and having our car towed away after our ride - starter was gone. But we didn't let that ruin our trip. We jumped in a rental and off we went. But not before stepping out of our condo door to be met by a bear - yes, I said a bear! It was quite and exciting evening.

We headed to Story Land the next day and ended our trip with a drive down the Kancamangus Highway - my old home away from home when I was a kid. Had a great time showing the family all of the swimming holes and hideaways that I spent so many summers exploring.

Olivia documented our unfortunate car towing incident.

Lower Falls along the Kancamangus River - the water was icycles.

Summertime

2007-07-24T12:52:00.001-07:00

Lots going on since last post. Leila is a wee busy girl. She stops only for food and sleep. She is a climber to the fullest extent of the word. She has no fear on the playground, spiral stairs to the roofdeck, etc. She concquers it all. She continues to be happy, healthy and spicy! She's loving summer and all its outdoor activities: swimming at the beach and pool, playing in the sandbox, riding her bike, swinging the golf clubs, and her favorite - BBQing. She is a joy and we are having a ball watching her ham it up. She tears the house apart daily but watching her play and learn is a reward in itself.

Leila has quite a few words in her vocabulary: baba(bottle), baba (help), baba (up) only I seem to know which one she means! Tha Tha (thank you) ba (ball), ya (her favorite) and shakes her head no with authority when she means "no," cracka, ta ta (no no), and of course -mama, dada, & eeea (Olivia).

Spring

2007-05-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Pooling it, golfing, picnicing - we are enjoying the beautiful weather that we've waiting so long for. Leila is loving it - with the exception of the feeling of grass. City kid!

Easter

2007-04-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Leila's first Easter. We didn't have to cook and only had to travel downstairs for dinner. It was fabulous. Livi collected most of the easter eggs but Leila found a fair amount for her first go at the tradition. I think in the end it was 17 to 33.

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

Surviving Winter

2007-02-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

It has been a long winter thus far, just as I anticipated. The cold weather moved in and we have been spending most of our days at home. Other than our weekly treck to ballet music class, and doctor visits, it has been pretty quiet around here.

Leila is on the move, cruising the furniture and this week began to let go and stand on her own for a second or two. It won't be long before I'm chasing her around the house on two feet. She is still eating like no tomorrow and growing like a weed. She hit the 20 lb. mark at her monthly check up this week - Olivia was 17 months before she hit that mark.

Leila's new thing is jewelry and pocketbooks. She looks like a drunken old lady trying to manuever around with her dozen or so strands of beads around her neck and a blue butterfly purse on her arm. I tried to show her how to keep her purse on her shoulder but she prefers to carry it down on her forearm and hold her arm up in the air to keep it on. The beads are so long around her neck they get tangled in her feet when she crawls so we take them off now and then and let her start over. It is really funny to watch and quite unexpected. I thought for sure she would be rough and tumbly given her spicy personality and the characteristics she has shown us this far. Perhaps we'll have two girly girls.

We can't keep the makeup case away from Olivia. Her Nai Nai gave it to her for Christmas and she uses it daily. She is now applying makeup on me as well. When her daddy gets home from work its always a surprise to him to see who will be wearing what color eye shadow and lipstick. Most of the time I look like I was beaten up - with a little bit of blue and a little purple. Olivia loves to mix it up. Our future artist. We spend our days painting, stamping and of course the dredded Playdough comes out while Leila is napping.

Can't wait for Spring to break and get outside again. We signed Olivia up for school this week so we will be making the best of our free days as things will change in the fall.

Until next time....
Katie & Co.

Pats Fans Until the End

2007-01-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Our dear ol' Pats lost the playoff game but the girls had a ball getting dressed in their game gear to cheer them on.

Christmas

2006-12-27T19:16:00.000-08:00

Our first Christmas as a family of four was wonderfully crazy. We began the festivities at 5:30am since, Tommy had to work at 7am. We woke the girls up (hated to do it) and starting into the gifts that Santa left under the tree. After her bubba, Leila was more than happy with her new Surfin Elmo Rocker. She spent an hour on it giggling away. The only time she stopped was to clap her hands to the sounds of cheering that Olivia's new microphone made when she stepped on the "clapping" pedal. Olivia just cracks Leila up. The morning was a bit rushed but we had a ball just the same. Olivia was so excited when she opened the telescope that Santa had promised her. I had to set it up immediately and we took in the sights of a very quiet, early morning, down town Boston from our livingroom window. I think we have a Jr. astronomer in the family - as Livi can't wait to get up on the roof deck and check out the stars.

We three girls had a quiet morning playing and taking naps, then headed to my sisters for breakfast - which we sort of missed due to those much needed snoozes. From there we headed to the Nana & Papa Keaney's for dinner where Tommy met up with us after work.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

2006-12-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

Our 15 Minutes of Fame

2006-12-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

Well, today was an exciting day in the Keaney household. We were featured in an article by the Boston Herald - pictures, quotes, and all. We were celebs for a day. The article was written about the new restrictions the CCAA is allegedly putting on prospective adoptive parents. This saddens me. Although we would not have fallen into any of the categories listed under the new guidlines, it is upsetting that China is placing these restrictions and discriminating against people that do fall into them.

Nevertheless, our family's picture appeared on page 7 this morning and we got lots of emails and the phone rang off the hook most of the day. I have attached the link to the article under the "Links" heading on the left side of this page.

We are preparing for the holidays and we're just about ready. I never thought I'd make it. Thank goodness for online shopping and free shipping. Olivia is looking forward to a new telescope that she asked Santa for in a letter she wrote herself. He of course answered her and said she could depend on him. She is really into Christmas this year and it is very exciting listening to her ideas about it all.

Getting back to life as usual.....well.....

2006-12-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

We are sleeping thru the night regularly this week. Things have been crazy. Don't have time for anything. I expected that - just not this bad. Tommy went back to work and I'm trying to get ready for Christmas.

Today is Leila's first birthday. We celebrated with a family dinner and, of course, cake and ice cream. Leila had two helping of eggplant parmesian, a stuffed shell, two helpings of cake (which was hysterical to watch her eat) and two scoops of ice cream. I don't know where she puts it. Its no wonder she has put on 1.5 lbs since she's been home. We sat her in her high chair and let her at the cake herself. She had a ball and was covered up to her nose in it.

She got mad when I said no to a third piece of cake.

Here's the birthday girl sporting a new hat and new ugg boots!

Baby its cold outside

2006-12-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

Pictures and more pictures

2006-12-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

Bath time!

Leila and Counselor Feeney at her first Christmas tree lighting.

Home at last

2006-12-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

We have been home almost two weeks and things are started to get back to normal. Still catching up on sleep and fighting colds and such but otherwise everyone is doing well.

Leila's transition came quite easily. I'm still waiting for her to relapse but so far it has been wonderful. She came to us very easily in China. The first two days she was quiet but on day three she burst out of her shell and has been herself as we know her ever since. She is very happy - full of smiles all the time. She continues to eat, eat, eat. It is a joy to feed her - she eats anything.

We had a late Thanksgiving dinner at my sisters house and our own Thanksgiving dinner as a family of four later that weekend. We were so tired Thanksgiving day that we couldn't fully enjoy it. So our turkey dinner a few days later was just what we needed.

It took Leila about a week to start sleeping through the night and she has an occasional awakening that she can't fix herself. Olivia has adjusted to sharing her room and no longer wakes up with Leila's crying. Our little Leilabell has quite a set of lungs - it amazes me that Livi not bothered by it.

We had our first dinner out at 224 Boston, our favorite spot here in Dot. Our friends there were most gracious and took the girls while Tommy and I enjoyed some time alone for a drink. Our 224 family is always so kind to us. Of course Olivia got her gigantic bowl of ice cream with her self chosen assortment of sprinkles - a tradition that I'm sure Leila will benefit from when she is old enough.

Leila had her first visit to the pediatrician last week. She was very brave and handled it very well. These first visits are difficult - lots of vaccinations to catch up on. She called out "mama" when Dr Wong began taking blood which would have been music to my ears had she not been so distressed at the time. She is in the 10% in height and weight - far surpassing Olivia whose size was not even big enough to register on the chart.

Family and friends have been dropping in to visit. We had a wonderful meal delivered to us last night by our good friend Maria who came to visit with her daughter An yi, one of Leila's spicy Hunan sisters who came home in October from China. And we ventured out to two birthday parties last week - Hannah B on Cape Cod and some of Olivia China sisters, Arian, Alena, Josie and Tess - who had a combo party giving us the chance to show Leila off to our China family.

We are gearing up for the holidays now. Trying to do a little at a time. Most days I'm lucky to get everyone dressed and fed a few meals. But we are slowly easing into life in the triple decka'. Its crowded, messy and disorganized but warm, cozy and full of laughs. At anytime during the day you can hear the sound of raspberries coming from Leila's little lips while we all join her in symphony. And there is no sweeter sound to my ears than my two girls laughing at each other's silliness. I am enjoying every moment of the chaos.

Our Last Day: The swearing in

2006-11-21T19:18:00.000-08:00

We spent our last day finishing up our shopping and our packing. Keryn spent the day in bed unfortunately - sick. I can't believe our trip is coming to an end. We had our consulate appointment this afternoon. After a ride in the pouring ran, complete with thunder and lightning, we were sworn in as a group, making the adoption process complete. The girls are ours forever and are now on their way to the good ol' U.S of A. I'm sad to be leaving - I have really enjoyed this trip and once again have had a great experience with no snags. And it doesn't hurt that we have the cutest baby in the world - sorry friends - I know you all feel the same about yours. But just look at those lips!

Our journey to Leila is coming to an end but it is just the beginning of our lives together and the start to our forever family. I don't know how you love someone so much that you have just met but I feel she has been in my heart a very long time. What joy these little girls bring to me. How lucky we are. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Its perfection! We are so blessed.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support during our journey. I felt the love through every email. Thank you for sharing this time with us. Thank you to those who made it all possible - you know who you are. You mean so much and we are eternally grateful.

Signing off from China. With love, the Keaney Family - Katie, Tommy, Olivia and Leila

Consulate Approval and Red Couch Photo

2006-11-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today all of our paperwork went to the consulate. We waited in our room to get word from Connie and Chen that everything was ok. We all passed - Hooray!

Leila slept even later today - 8:45. We are definitely meant to be together. We both like to eat and sleep. She's looks like an angel when she's sleeping and a little baby bird when she's being fed. She has a tiny little mouth. Most baby spoons are even too big to get the food in. So we use little bits, and shovel it in really really fast. Otherwise she starts to squack.

The spicy noodle went three for three today. At all three meals she needed her nappy changed. Its as though she waits for me to sit down and start eating. She's a cheeky little thing.

Today was also red couch day. The babies had their photos taken on the red couch in the lobby of the White Swan and the group had a photo taken in front of the waterfall. The cooperated for the most part. Then someone started crying and it turned into a symphony. You can see in the first photo on the couch that Leila's girlfriend Lauren is very concerned about her. Here the girls get ready for their photo - with matching lucky ladybug dresses of course.

Tommy and I got a night out tonight. Keryn stayed with the girls. We had a bottle of wine at an outdoor restaurant on the Pearl River. We sat under what looked like Cypress trees with green spotlights shining on them and red lanterns hanging from the branches. We watched the neon lights of Bar Street across the River. For anyone who has been to Guangzhou, you know what I mean. It was really nice to have some time alone. Probably our last for a while.

Leila said Mama today. I went nuts! I'm sure she didn't realize what she was saying but it made me melt just the same.

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

2006-11-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

Seeing as my theme seems to be poop on this trip, I thought it was a good time to share this picture. Apparently the Chinese think we lounge in the toilet. The bottom part of the picture is for a water closet - Chinese style. The top is the "rest room" with a western toilet. We got a big chuckle out of it.

Leila slept until 8:30 today. Keeps on getting better. And of course I missed breakfast again due to diaper duty. Funny how she knows just the right moment.

Today we had a tour of Guangzhou. We went to a temple to have the babies blessed. When we arrived there was a rare ceremony going on in the temple. It was very interesting to see and beautiful to listen to. After the blessing we went to pray to the female buddah to thank her for the gift of our beautiful daughter. She is the one, according to Chinese belief, who decides weather a child born will be a boy or a girl. It is custom for pregnant women to go to her and pray.

We lit insence in front of the temple with the three buddahs to send our wishes up in smoke to the Gods. I asked Olivia what she wished for - she said "I wish for my green house." That's when I knew it was time to go home. She misses her own bed and the Chinese cartoons aren't the same as "Mousie" (as she refers to Noggin.) She has done very well. Its not an easy trip - especially fighting for attention. Everything is more difficult: bathing, brushing teeth, eating. But she has been a real trouper and we are very proud of her. She makes a great Jie Jie (big sister) and is really bonding with Leila much quicker than I expected.

After the temple we went to a porcelain and jade market. Our driver dropped us off at the door and we all piled. When he backed out he drove right down a stairway - leaving the bus teetering. No one was hurt - and it was the talk of the day.

In the afternoon a tailor came to the hotel to measure us for some custom made traditional clothing. We picked what we wanted made and chose fabrics. I had a dress and a long coat made. I'll be all decked out for Chinese New Year.

Tonight we had massages at the hotel. Our guide arranged for three men to come to the hotel and give us deep tissue massage. It was fabulous! Where were they in Beijing after my climb on the wall?

Leila was less craky today. I think the meds are kicking in on her ear infection. She has slowed a bit on eating. I think she is beginning to understand that the food will keep coming.

P.S. I am having trouble uploading pictures to this post. I'll keep trying. I manage to do 4 months of paperwork, get myself and my family to China with all our gear, do more paperwork, bring home a baby... but I can't upload/download a pictures onto a blog!

Exam Day

2006-11-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

Today the babies had their visa exams. Everyone passed! Leila never made a peep.We also had pictures taken for their visa applications.

We shopped at the pearl market in the afternoon after lunch at Lucy's. Filled all my orders and then some.

Packing it up and off to Guangzhou

2006-11-17T22:09:00.000-08:00

Spend Friday packing and paperworking. I packed, Tommy did paperwork. Keryn spend the day with Olivia keeping her busy. Don't know what we would have done without her. Leila slept until 8:10am and napped for 3 hours. That's MY girl!

We flew to Guangdong Friday night and made it safe and sound. After Leila pooped all over herself, the baby carrier, and me that is. We said farewell to Jackie in Changsha and hello to Connie in Guangzhou. Was nice that she remembered us. The new airport is beautiful. Four plane rides down, three to go.

After checking in Tommy and Keryn headed out to Lucy's for a bite while I stayed behind with my girls. We had girls night in including a tub for 3 thanks to the roomy tub at the White Swan Hotel. Love being back. We got connecting rooms this time but Olivia continues to fall asleep in our room and then gets moved into Keryn's.

More Sightseeing

2006-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Today we went to a local Kindergarten school and the children entertained us with song and dance. It was awsome. We were shown around the grounds of the school and given gifts of artwork by the children. We sang and danced with them. They set of fireworks in our honour - it was so great. Olivia was a little shy at first but started to come around when she heard some of her favorite Mei Mei Hu songs. The teachers and children were so warm and welcoming. What a treat!

Next we went to a local farm in, what they call, the countryside. It was just outside the city in a little village. We were welcomed with oranges in traditional Chinese style and brought thru the house where one family lives. It was interesting to see how the farmers live and work but sad too. They are very proud of what they have - tv, motorcycle, electricity, animals, planting fields, and were happy to show us around. Then we strolled thru the village market. This is a picture of a vendor. Anyone for a slab of ???

Feeding Time and Play Time

2006-11-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the way this one eats. She puts more food away than I do. So far she hasn't turned anything away except watered down orange juice.

Leila has developed an ear infection so we have her on antibiotics. She's been a wee bit cranky the last 2 days so we had the dr. check her out before our flight tomorrow. Our doctor is fabulous!

We fly out to Guangzhou late tomorrow afternoon (Friday for us). First stop, Danny's Bagels for a chicken parmesian sub. It's been Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, pizza, McDonalds, more Chinese food. Breakfasts are great - just like home and then some. Tommy is the brave one. He has tried almost everything: snail, snake, crab, periwinkles, no matter how spicy. But we keep a fire extinguisher close by just in case. He's getting the hang of the spicy food. Keryn, Olivia and I are playing it safe. Lots of PB&J's. Packing pb and jelly is the way to go. I do LOVE the dumplings - good call Barb. I miss napkins and ice. Napkins are hard to come by believe it or not.

I am completely in love with Leila. I don't know how it happens so fast, but it has. She is cuddly and happy and her smile makes me melt. She definitely gets the funniest hair award for the group. She looks like an 80's rock star - a little Rod Stewart. She is definitely a Hunan girl - her spicy side shows when you don't shovel the food in fast enough. She sleeps thru the night - slept until 7am this morning.

Sightseeing

2006-11-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (Wednesday I think) we went to an emboidery museum and a university in Chengsha. The work at the museum was incredible! Couldn't capture its beauty on film so you'll have to come to my house to admire the wall hangings I purchased. For all my former travel mates - be proud - yes, I was the last one back on the bus after shopping. The university is over one thousand years old - part of Hunan University. Mao himself attended school there for a few semesters.

Leila and her Jie Jie

2006-11-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

It's Official

2006-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday we went back to the Civil Affairs office and made everything official. We were thumb printed and Leila was foot printed. We had a short interview, shook on it, more paperwork, sign on the dotted line (9 times) and wa la - she's ours! We got to skip out on one interview - I guess they trusted we were good parents.

Went out exploring in the afternoon. Felt like celebrities - lots of stares, but friendly ones. Everyone is so friendly and love the babies. Tommy found KFC and was happy as a pig in mud.

More Photos

2006-11-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures. Downloading has been slow and I cannot view our blog. I will continue to try but for now cannot read comments but can receive emails at my email address.

They arrived together with their nanny - Miss Lauren Rhude and Miss Leila Keaney. Just like Marilyn and I planned.

Daddy and his girls

Sisters first kiss.

Heeeeeeeere's Leila

2006-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Gotcha Day

2006-11-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

We've got her! She's even more beautiful than her picture. Second time around was as wonderful as the first. Everything went perfectly. Aside from a little congestion, Yi Ren (aka Leila) is doing great. Our group's doctor gave her a thorough check up and said she looks terrific. She is tall but thin: 29.5 inches and 15 lbs - just like her sister was. Almost the exact same measurements in fact. She has lots of hair, which was a surprise to us. She came to us very easily, without tears. Three teeth and two on the way down.

She has a wonderful little personality. She is very happy and didn't cry once all day until 10 minutes after she fell asleep tonight - she woke up and didn't know where she was. Her daddy got the first smile out of her but Olivia made her roar with laughter while tickling her belly. She is very playful, sucks her thumb, and eats like a bear.

We are all exhausted but doing great and enjoying ourselves and our travel families. Our journey with Leila is just getting started. How long we waited and in an instant those last 21 months melted away when she was put in my arms. She has already brought so much happiness to our little family. I am only saddened that her birth mother can not see the joy she has given us. I hope she can somehow feel our love and gratitude through our prayers to her.

Having trouble downloading picture. Will keep trying.

Beijing: The Great Wall and Forbidden City

2006-11-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

It has been an amazing trip so far. We had a great time in Beijing. Weather was perfect - beautiful sunny, fall-like days with crisp air. Olivia has made some friends who keep her busy. She climbed the Great Wall - about a third of the way up on the section we were at. I managed to make it to the top of the Wall and I've been paying for it for 2 days with aches and pains in my legs.

Chen Chen is our guide and is making the trip as great as the first one with her. Made it to the Silk Market and could have spent days there. Added an extra 5 lbs easily to my luggage with all my treasures. Also made a stop at a silk factory where we saw how silk is made and loaded up on silk quilts and other goodies.

Travel Meeting Smiles

2006-11-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

We never thought it would get here, but here we are. Just days away and putting a few last things together. Travel meeting went well. Tommy and I volunteered to be group leaders on the trip (well, I volunteered us.)

We take off at 8:55am Thursday morning and arrive in Beijing at 4:05pm Friday. Uuggh! We are just counting the days till we meet our sweet n spicy girl.

"LOVE"

2006-10-30T20:09:00.000-08:00

Once again today, on our ride home from ballet class, Olivia told me she misses her mei mei. I think I have heard her say these words at least 500 times in the last year, no exaturation. I'm certain there will be a great void in her daily "favorite things to say" when we return from China with Leila and she no longer needs to say it. I can only hope it will convert to "I love my mei mei." She told me she can't wait until Leila is a big girl. I'm sure the hardest part will be waiting for her to be big enough to really play with. I know with a little time Olivia's mei mei will be her best friend. And there will be love...

Approved and Confirmed

2006-10-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

We have finally received travel approval from China to bring baby Leila home. We leave on November 9th and will return on the 22nd, which is the night before Thanksgiving. Although I'm afraid that day will be a bit of a nightmare to travel home, we will have Leila in our arms and nothing else will matter at that point. We enter the U.S. through Chicago - perhaps we'll have turkey in the windy city!

Gotcha Day will be November 13th, the day following Olivia's 4th birthday, which will be celebrated with a trip to the Great Wall. She is very excited about that! It will be hard to beat the gift of a new sister and a walk on the Wall. What will we give her next year?

Tommy and I are excited about seeing a different part of China and Keryn (our niece) is just plain psyched for the trip. She will be coming along to help out and room with Olivia. We are so greatful to her.

We are moving along - have started packing, have visa stamps on our passports, and lots of great advise for a trip to a new province from our China families who have traveled there.

2006-10-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Tic Toc, Tic Toc, Tic Toc

About Chenzhou

2006-10-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

Leila Chen Yi is from the Hunan province in the city of Chenzhou, which is near the southern border of Hunan, just north of Guangdong. Hunan is a rural province and Chenzhou is the Suoxiyu Ridge is located; a naturally shaped "grotesque" rock formation, grand waterfalls, cold springs, mirror lakes, Underground House and Dragon Palace.

Changsha, Hunan Forecast : Weather Underground

2006-10-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

Changsha, Hunan Forecast : Weather Underground

Preparations

2006-09-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

We have had quite a week spreading the news and sharing photos with family and friends. Everyone is excited to meet the newest member of our family. We posted a package for Leila to the Chenzhou SWI containing a photo book of our family, a blanket, some stuffed toys, and a camera - with hopes her caretakers will take pictures of her, her friends and surroundings at the orphanage. We also sent four passports off to NY for visa stamps. The three of us will be traveling to China along with our niece Keryn, one of Olivia's godmothers.

Olivia is now understanding a little better that her sister will soon be home. She told me she is "very cited" and that the baby is hers, not mine. We are trying to enjoy these last weeks alone with her; life will soon change!

"Hello little sister
I love you!"

Referral Day

2006-09-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

She has arrived in our hearts. We received a referral of a beautiful baby girl named Chen Yi Ren. We thought the day was going to pass without word, but at the eleventh hour the phone reang with the news. We were at Trader Joe's when Tommy's pager went off with his father's number and when he called Larry told him to call the agency right away. I couldn't get out of the store fast enough and almost got us killed on the way back to pick Olivia up at ballet to tell her the news. We are filled with joy!

Here we are on referral day (or in our case, day 2 of referral day) with our new extended family: Marilyn, Paul, PJ and [Christopher missing] Rhude. Our daughters are residents of the Chenzhou Social Welfare Institute and will be forever sisters.

Waiting....

2006-09-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are waiting for a referral. I know this feeling all too well and it has its similarities and differences. Waiting is a bit easier this time, in a way - but also more difficult. We began this journey 19 months ago with paperwork, but officially have been waiting for 14 months since logged in at the CCAA office July 26, 2005. It has been a year full of one delay after another but we are finally nearing the end - referrals are expected soon. And after being slighted by 4 days last month, our heartbreak is mending with this months pending batch. All is quiet on line and no rumors flying about to speak of. We sit and wait once again...

2006-09-21T20:19:00.000-07:00